Hubert Gouvaine "Nummy" Deane, one of South Africa's great captains, died suddenly at Johannesburg on October 21, after a heart attack. He will always be remembered for his fine leadership of the young teams of 1927-28 and 1929, and there can be no doubt that his inspiration and careful team-building were chiefly responsible for the improvement in South African cricket of recent years. Born at Eshowe, Zululand on July 21, 1895, Deane, an attractive batsman, who scored fast when set, and a brilliant fieldsman, especially at cover, played for Natal for a few seasons after the Great War and for Transvaal from 1923. A member of the 1924 team in England he played in all five Test matches, but did nothing outstanding. After captaining the Currie Cup-winning Transvaal teams of 1925-26 and 1926-27, he was appointed captain of South Africa against the English touring team of 1927-28, and, after the first two Tests had been lost, and the third drawn, the last two were won largely owing to his fine tactics. Deane won the toss in all five Tests, which were played on matting, and in the 2nd, 4th and 5th games, he sent England in first, so that his young team would know what they had to beat, and he triumphantly justified his policy. In the third match he scored 77 and 73, putting up a record Test partnership with E. P. Nupen in each innings. His leadership of the young and inexperienced side that toured England in 1929 increased his reputation, and the team did much better against the chief sides than expected. In the fifth Test match at the Oval Deane won the toss and sent in England, who could make only 258. With three wickets down for 25 runs Deane joined H. W. Taylor, and they added 214, the captain scoring a courageous 93. England recovered well, but the honours went to South Africa. Deane retired from first-class cricket after this tour, in which he scored 1,239 runs, average 34.41. Persuaded to captain South Africa again, in 1930, he found himself so much out of form that he resigned after playing in the second and third Tests. In the Currie Cup competitions, Deane scored 1,082 runs, average 37.31, the highest three centuries being 165 for Transvaal against O.F.S. in 1923-24. He took a prominent part in the administration of the game, and was a member of the committees that selected the South African teamsof 1929, 1930-31 and 1931-32.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack